The self-sufficient gaming system was developed by scientists at Northwestern University in the US and TU Delft in the Netherlands, who set out to explore the limits of battery-free computing.

The system features a processor that replicates that of a retro 8-bit Nintendo Game Boy and can play games from that console's original cartridges, which the team notes actually calls for a considerable amount of computational power and energy.

 

 

But instead of turning to a battery to provide continuous power, the team embedded solar panels around the edge of the screen that work in tandem with a capacitor-based system to harvest energy from the user's interactions with the device, as they press its buttons.

The device is the same size and shape as an original Game Boy, and is able to quickly switch between these two power sources, but not without a short disruption to the gameplay.

 

 

The team says these interruptions last less than a second at the moment under typical gameplay conditions, which works for games like Tetris or Solitaire, but will need addressing for more action-heavy titles.

On the plus side, the system is able to save the user’s progress the moment power is lost, allowing them to pick up where they left off even if Mario is in mid-air.

 

 

According to New Atlas